Refrigerator



P. KOHLER 2,059,878

REFRIGERATOR Filed May 3, 1932 INVENTOR. 30 511 Peter Kbh ler ATTORNEY3| 7 Patented Nov. 3, 1936 UNITED STATES.

PATE OFFICE REFRIGERATOR Application May 3, 1932, Serial No. 608,888 InGermany July 30, 1931 13 Claims. (Cl. 62-170) This invention relates torefrigeration and more particularly to a method and apparatus forquickly producing refrigeration to meet occasional extraordinarydemands.

In small households it is often found uneconomical to keep a mechanicalrefrigerator in continuous operation, especially during the coldermonths of the year. When a refrigerator of the type usually provided forhouseholds has been shut down, a comparatively long time is requiredafter resumption of operation to produce the desired amount ofrefrigeration and when it is desired to make ice cubes or cool bottles,or the like, considerable delay is experienced.

Guests in hotels often desire ice or cool drinking water on very shortnotice but storage space for foodstuiis is not required.

In accordance with this invention, a refrigerator is provided by meansof which the above problem is satisfactorily and inexpensively solved.There is contemplated a refrigerator having a cooling element adapted toreceive various objects to be cooled including bottles, ice cube trays,and the like, and which may be operated by water from the city mains orlocal supply and in which refrigeration is produced immediately thewater is turned on.

Further objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which,

Fig. 1 shows schematically an apparatus for carrying out the method ofrefrigeration contemplated by this invention;

Fig. 2 is a modification of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a modification of the apparatus shown in Fig. 2.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawing, a container ID is provided with acapped filling opening II through which a quantity of cooling liquid isintroduced into the container, such liquid having suitable evaporatingand condensing tem,

duits I4 and Ida, to a fluid supply such as a water pipe I5 and areselectively controlled by a two-way shut off valve I6.

The container II] is provided With an overflow conduit II whichdischarges above the container, as shown, and is provided with a checkvalve I8 operated by pressure outwardly from the container. Thesymmetrical container Illa is likewise provided with a conduit Ilahaving a check valve I8a. In the containers are similar vertical pipesI9 and I9a which extend from the bottom of the containers to a pointabove the liquid levels regulated by the valves I8 and I8a, ashereinafter described.

In operation, if control valve I6 is turned so that water is dischargedthrough the injector I3a into the container I0a, the pressure is reducedabove the dichlormethane in container III and the pressure is increasedin container Illa. Due to the decrease in pressure in container III, thedichlormethane evaporates, the heat of evaporization being supplied bythe liquid which can then be used for cooling. The dichlormethane vaporis drawn through conduit I2 and injected with the water into containerla in which, due to the increased pressure and the cooling effect of thewater, the vapor condenses to a liquid. Since dichlormethane does notmix with water but stratifies, the condensate will collect in the bottomof the container Illa with the water on. top. The conduit [1a. isconnected to the container Illa at a level above that which would beattained if all of the dichlormethane were in this container. The valveI8a is adjusted so that it opens at a certain pressure in the container-Illa, allowing the water to discharge throughconduit Ila over thecontainer, thus obtaining a further cooling efiect. This effect could beincreased, if desired, by providing around the container IIla, a jacketprovided with.

an overflow for retaining the water discharged from conduit Ila or thecontainer could be covered by a porous material which absorbs thedischarged water.

If all of the dichlormethane has been evaporated from container I0 andcondensed in container Illa, the valve I6 can be turned to direct iscovered by a layer of water in the container Illa. This conduit I9a, andthe same is true of conduit IS in the reverse process, functions as athermosiphon from which any water is ejected by ascending gas bubblesthus affording direct communication from the cooling liquid to the gasspace in the container. In practice, the pipes l9 and |9a are preferablyarranged outside of the containers in order to prevent possible freezingof the water. The presence of a certain amount of water above thecooling liquid in the container functioning as an evaporator isadvantageous as it lowers the vapor pressure, thus affording lowertemperatures and more rapid refrigeration. Also, some of the Water willevaporate.

In a simplified device as just described in connection with Fig. 1, itis diificult to obtain a complete separation of the dichlormethane fromthe water and a small amount will be carried away with the waterdischarged through conduits I! and Ila, which amount, after some time,would have to be replaced. However, apparatus of this nature may bearranged to obtain substantially complete separation of the coolingliquid and water. Such arrangements are shown in Figs. 2 and 3 in whichonly half of the apparatus is shown since the other half is identical asin Fig. 1.

Referring to Fig. 2 the container I!) described in connection with Fig.1 is replaced by a condenser 20 and an evaporator 2|. The injector |3discharges into one end of the condenser 20 which communicates at itsother end with the upper portion of the evaporator 2|. The condenser isprovided ,with a plurality of baflie plates 22 having staggeredapertures 23 along the topand smaller staggered apertures 24 along thebottom. From several points along the bottom of the condenser, conduits25 connect to conduit 26 which discharges into the evaporator 2|. Fromthe upper part of the evaporator 2| leads a conduit 2'! provided with anadjustable pressure operated check valve 28, the conduit 21 dischargingover the condenser 20 which, if desired, may be provided with some formof cooling jacket as suggested in connection with Fig. 1. A conduit 29extends from the bottom of the evaporator 2| upwardly to a point abovethe liquid level in the condenser 20 as determined by the adjustment ofvalve 28.

The operation of the apparatus just described in connection with Fig. 2is identical with that described in connection with Fig. 1 except that,due to the baffle plates 22 in the condenser 20, a greaterStratification of the dichlormethane and water takes place beforereaching the outlet valve 28. The baffles 22 function to decreaseturbulence in the condenser 20 whereby the dichlormethane sinks to thebottom and flows to the evaporator through the several conduits 25 andconduit 26. As shown, the evaporator 2| is adapted to receive trays ofwater for making ice cubes but this is merely suggestive and theevaporator may be constructed in any manner desired to accommodatebottles or any other objects to be cooled, depending upon the servicerequired. 1

In Fig. 2 the condenser and evaporator are shown on the same side of theinjector l3 but a still greater separation of water and dichlormethanemay be obtained by employing an arrangement illustrated in Fig. 3 inwhich the evaporator and condenser are located on opposite sides of theinjector. In this arrangement,

the injected water and entrained vapor enter the condenser 3|] byoverflow through aperture 35 from chamber 36. The condenser is providedwith a plurality of baffles 32 and, at the end opposite the injector, isprovided with the overflow conduit 31 controlled by check valve 38. Asin the previous arrangement, the baffies 32 are provided along the topwith openings 33 which, however, diminish in size in the direction fromthe aperture 35 to the overflow conduit 31. along the bottom, thebaffles 32 are also provided with openings 34 which increase in size inthe direction from the overflow conduit 37 to the evaporator 2|.

When water is discharged through the injector I3, water anddichlormethane vapor drawn through conduit |2, as previously described,enter chamber 36 from which the water overflows through aperture 35,filling first the evaporator 3| and then the condenser 30, while thedichlormethane condenses in condenser 30. The condensate collects at thebottom of the condenser 30 and flows through the openings 34 in thebaffles 32 into the evaporator 3| where it sinks to the bottom, beingheavier than the water, displacing the latter. The flow of water towardthe overflow conduit 31 is through the gradually reduced openings 33 inthe battle plates 32 whereby turbulence is gradually dampened, therebyallowing the condensed dichlormethane to more readily sink to thebottom. Obviously the size of the openings 33 should never be less thanthe nozzle opening, for this would again produce turbulence.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various otherchanges may be made in theconstruction and arrangement without departingfrom the spirit of the invention and therefore the invention is notlimited to what is described in the specification and shown in thedrawing but only as indicated in the following claims.

I claim:

1. The process of refrigeration which comprises applying a jet of waterto aspirate vapor from above a body of cooling liquid immiscible withwater, condensing the vapor by the pressure of and heat transfer to thewater, separating the condensate from the water and removing the water,against a gas pressure, from the presence of the separated condensate,by developing a pressure above a predetermined value on the condensateand water.

2. The process of refrigeration which comprises applying a jet of waterto aspirate vapor from above a body of cooling liquid immiscible withwater, condensing the vapor by the pressure of and heat transfer to theWater, separating the condensate from the water, removing the waterabove a predetermined quantity, and utilizing the water thus removed forfurther cooling the vapor.

3. The process of refrigeration which comprises utilizing a jet of waterto aspirate vapor from above a body of dichlormethane, condensing thevapor by the pressure of and heat transfer to the water, separating thewater and condensate by stratification, and removing the Water fromabove the condensate by developing a pressure above a predeterminedvalue.

4. Refrigerating apparatus comprising two closed containers, a conduitbetween the upper portions of said containers, two injectors in saidconduit each connected to discharge into one of said containers, a valveconnected to selectively control a supply of fluid under pressure'tosaid injectors, an overflow conduit from each of said containers, acheck valve in each overflow conduit, and a conduit from the bottom ofeach container opening into the upper part thereof.

5. Refrigerating apparatus comprising two closed containers, a conduitbetween said containers, and means associated with said conduit forselectively directing a jet of water to create a pressure difference ineither direction between said containers.

6. An evaporator comprising a container for cooling liquid having anoutlet conduit, a fluid jet aspirator in said conduit, and a narrowconduit from the lower part of said container opening in the upper partof the container above the normal liquid level therein.

7. A condenser-evaporator comprising a closed container, means forinjecting water and vapor into said container, and means for withdrawingvapor from said container, said means being selectively operable.

8. A condenser-evaporator comprising a closed container having a conduitconnected to the upper part thereof, a water jet for ejecting vaporthrough said conduit into the container, a water jet for aspirated vaporfrom said container, said jets being selectively operable, an overflowconduit from said container having a pressure responsive valve and anarrow conduit from the lower part of said container opening into theupper-part above the normal liquid level thereplying water underpressure to said jets.

10. In refrigerating apparatus of the class described acondenser-evaporator comprising a horizontally elongated containerhaving a well portion at one end thereof, a conduit connected to theother end of said container, selectively operable means associated withsaid conduit for injecting water and vapor into said container andaspirating vapor therefrom, a plurality of baiiies in said containerbetween said conduit and said well portion, an overflow conduit having acheck valve from the upper part of said well portion, and a narrowconduit from the bottom of said well portion to the upper part of saidcontainer, opening above the normal liquid level therein.

11. In refrigerating apparatus of the class described, acondenser-evaporator comprising a horizontally elongated containerhaving a well portion at one end recessed for the reception of materialto be cooled, a conduit connected to the other end of said container,selectively operable means associated with said conduit for injectingwater and vapor into said container and aspirating vapor therefrom, aplurality of baffles in said container between said conduit and saidwell portion, a manifold connecting aplurality of points in the bottomof the bafiie section of the container directly to said well portion, anoverflow conduit from the upper part of said well portion, an adjustablepressure responsive-check valve in last said conduit, and a narrow pipefrom the bottom of said well portion to the upper part of saidcontainer, opening above the normal liquid level therein.

12. In refrigerating apparatus of theclass described acondenser-evaporator comprising a horizontally elongated containerhaving a well portion at one end, an overflow conduit from the other endof said container having a pressure operated check valve, a chamberwithin said container intermediate the ends thereof having an opening inits upper portion, a conduit communicating with said chamber,selectively operable means associated with the last said conduit forinjecting water and vapor into said chamber and aspirating vaportherefrom, and bafiles in said container between said chamber and saidoverflow conduit.

13. In refrigerating apparatus of the class described acondenser-evaporator comprising: a horizontally elongated containerhaving a well portion at one end recessed for the reception of materialto be cooled, an overflow conduit from the other end of said containerhaving a pressure operated check valve, a chamber within said containerintermediate the ends thereof having an opening in its upper portion, a

conduit communicating with said chamber, se-

lectively operable means associated with the last said conduit forinjecting water and vapor into ,said chamber and aspirating vaportherefrom,

